Designers Stefan Steil and Barrie Benson cast an appraising eye on an array of chalk-white pieces that add a clean, crisp note to any room

The Experts

The Experts

From ancient Egypt to colonial America, artists have used plaster, one of the world's most versatile materials, to make intricate sculptures and architectural ornaments. In the 20th century, designers such as Frances Elkins and John Dickinson became renowned for producing whimsical white plaster furnishings and light fixtures.

The material isn't without drawbacks, most notably its fragility. Today, manufacturers use plaster as well as similar looking but more durable materials to create objects and furniture with the signature chalk-white look. Such pieces are popular for good reason, says designer Barrie Benson: "They can make a stiff room feel a lot more casual."

Plaster-like pieces usually have a strong handmade quality and a heavily textured finish—appealing elements for almost any interior, traditional or modern, says designer Stefan Steil. "They can bring a touch of nature into a room," he adds, "without hitting you over the head."

THE EXPERTS

BARRIE BENSON

Known for mixing periods and styles while adding splashes of color and pattern, Benson designs residential and commercial spaces in her native North Carolina as well as in New York and Los Angeles. barriebenson.com

STEFAN STEIL

Since establishing his smartly named design firm, Steilish, last year, the German-born, New York–based designer has crafted modern interiors peppered with surprising natural elements. steilish.com

1/ PETAL CHAIR BY ATELIER DÉMIURGE

1/ PETAL CHAIR BY ATELIER DÉMIURGE

Made of stucco over iron, this chair earns Barrie Benson's praise. "It's a little work of art," she says. "The petite scale would make it perfect for a vanity." Stefan Steil appreciates the item's nod to nature. "It looks like twigs growing out of the ground," he says, and suggests setting it off as a focal point. "It would be unexpected in a stark living room." 32" h. x 17" w. x 16" d.; $3,400; demiurgenewyork.com